Please suggest hardtail for touring

I would like to get a new hardtail for touring. 90% is on paved roads, so I think locking fork is a must. Price about $800. What makers/models should I look at? New vs used?

Another possibility is to fix the bike I have - Schwinn Frontier GSD. But this will require replacing pretty much everything - fork, breaks, deraulers, pedals, probably bottom bracket. Plus mechanical work, and I am in no way an experienced mechanic. I am willing to learn though. Good idea/bad idea?

P.S. Road bike/touring bike is probably not an option. I like the offroad, even if it is only 10%. No jumps or anything crazy though, simple offroad.

I would keep my eyes on the local craigslist and ebay. Once spring gets here, prices in the used market will go up a little, but choices will be more abundant.

Usually budget friendly suggestions in one way or another involve the name Surly. I can attest the the awesomeness of the Karate Monkey and the Cross Check.

I would forgo the susp. fork, and stick with the rigid, especially if you'll be spending more time on roads. The KM can fit large enough tires to dampen any rough stuff when you do find yourself on trail.

That said, you might be able to get away with a more touring oriented or cyclocross bike.

Thank you all for the suggestions. I looked at them all. However, they are a bit above my price range (I'm sure for a good reason). For now I will go with modifying my existing bike - it is also much more fun this way

I'd think that most hardtails or ridgids in that price range will do you fine. Obviously there are some ideals you'd be shooting for; steel frame, braze-ons, 29er, and obviously better components are gonna make for less troubles. But if you can strap stuff to it you can tour on it.

If you do go for a new bike I'd tell you to make sure you get a good frame over anything, everything else can be slowly upgraded. Maybe buy a Surly Troll and swap your parts over?

I'd think that most hardtails or ridgids in that price range will do you fine.

That's what I thought, but there are so many... Hoped to narrow the range by getting some suggestions. Got quite a few, but not in the price range.

Originally Posted by big_papa_nuts

But if you can strap stuff to it you can tour on it.

I think so too.

Originally Posted by big_papa_nuts

If you do go for a new bike I'd tell you to make sure you get a good frame over anything

Wish I knew how to see a good frame...

Originally Posted by big_papa_nuts

Maybe buy a Surly Troll and swap your parts over?

Looked at this one too. Again, a new one is out of the price range ($1400 is what I get from google). What I decided to do is the inverse - get the parts I want and slap it on the frame I have. I suspect this will be enough. I don't really know if my frame is good or bad. Nothing on it screams "bad" to me. So that's the plan for now.

What I meant is that you could get a Troll frameset (less then 500 on google) and have it built with the parts off your current bike, while replacing what NEEDS to be replaced. Honestly it may be the best approach to just ride you current bike and upgrade as needed. I'd also tell you to consider the need for a suspension fork. The simpler you can make your bike the easier your life will be.

If you really are going to be 90% road, then I would recommend against a suspension fork (no need on the road and many of us have ridden rigid off-road at one time or another) and in favor of clipless pedals (maybe a platform/SPD combo like the one below).

What I meant is that you could get a Troll frameset (less then 500 on google) and have it built with the parts off your current bike, while replacing what NEEDS to be replaced.

This is a very valid suggestion. I was thinking about that too. If I get the parts now and the frame later, wouldn't it be the same as getting the frame now and the parts later? My parts are pretty bad, so I suspect better parts will improve my ride more than better frame. May be wrong here.

Originally Posted by big_papa_nuts

I'd also tell you to consider the need for a suspension fork. The simpler you can make your bike the easier your life will be.

I think I will miss it if I don't have it. That's why I keep insisting on it, even though many suggest rigid. I guess if the fork breaks in the middle of nowhere, I will learn my lesson then

I guess I'm not sure why you would invest $800 in parts on a frame that was part of a bike that cost $450 new. IMO you'd be better off starting with a better frame.

$450 in parts. If I get a new frame later for another $450, that's in the ballpark of the total $800 I mentioned in the opening comment.

Originally Posted by Gregon2wheels

Again, just IMO, but I don't understand what you are trying to do with the parts you've picked. I'd be looking at something much more road that could do some off-road.

As I am not a very experience rider, I can't say that I know what I am doing. I do want front suspension though - I've been to places where I would be sad if I didn't have it. So I want a road bike with front suspension... or MTB for road... pretty contradictory, I know.

If you really are going to be 90% road, then I would recommend against a suspension fork (no need on the road and many of us have ridden rigid off-road at one time or another) and in favor of clipless pedals (maybe a platform/SPD combo like the one below).

Was looking at clipless. I probably will kill myself on a trail with them, so I will go with platforms now.

You will save $$ going with rigid and rim brakes. You won't need to spend much more, if any, on clipless + platform pedals. That might free up some money for a frame.

As I mentioned in a post before, I don't really understand what a better frame is, and what it gives me. I can see how better fork, pedals, and breaks make my ride better. Please point me to a reading/post/explanation. Thank you.

Alex, are you in Hawaii? I'm actually gonna be out there, in Kauai, on the 20th.

Anyways, from experience I can say that a rigid can go almost anyplace a hardtail can, you just have to pick your lines better. You will also want to pay attention to your PSIs more. And soft luggage will go a long way when riding loaded off road.

Alex, are you in Hawaii? I'm actually gonna be out there, in Kauai, on the 20th.

No, I'm from New Jersey. Would love to tour Hawaii, but for now my experience includes only a single overnight trip to the local camping site. I would like to build some experience with short trips, then bike the east coast, as it is closer to my home.

Originally Posted by big_papa_nuts

Anyways, from experience I can say that a rigid can go almost anyplace a hardtail can, you just have to pick your lines better.

Yes, rigid has been suggested so many times that I am wondering if I'm being overly stubborn here. Maybe I will get a rigid fork, put it on my current bike, and make a few rides to see how it is. I have a suspicion I won't like it, but it is not backed by any experience. And I imagine it is a relatively cheap experiment to do.

No, I'm from New Jersey. Would love to tour Hawaii, but for now my experience includes only a single overnight trip to the local camping site. I would like to build some experience with short trips, then bike the east coast, as it is closer to my home.

Yes, rigid has been suggested so many times that I am wondering if I'm being overly stubborn here. Maybe I will get a rigid fork, put it on my current bike, and make a few rides to see how it is. I have a suspicion I won't like it, but it is not backed by any experience. And I imagine it is a relatively cheap experiment to do.

It is much easier and cheaper to start with a ridgid and then decide you want a suspension fork later than to spend exorbitant money on a suspension fork only to find out that your riding really doesn't require it. Quite frankly, it's sounding more and more like you need 2 separate bikes altogether. I have a surly disctrucker, road disc brakes are great, if I put knobbies on it, I know it could easily handle dirt roads no problem, but if your really looking to do some touring and some serious trail riding the ridgid fork Surly Troll or karate monkey is probably the way to go. if you look around on ebay you may find one of those frames used for a couple hundred.

Quite frankly, it's sounding more and more like you need 2 separate bikes altogether.

Yes, sounds like that to me too. But I can't take two bikes to a tour . So I am looking for the right kind of hybrid.

Originally Posted by cpfitness

but if your really looking to do some touring and some serious trail riding the ridgid fork Surly Troll or karate monkey is probably the way to go. if you look around on ebay you may find one of those frames used for a couple hundred.

Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely keep my eyes open for these and for CraigsList and Ebay in general.

Originally Posted by Aushiker

There is heaps of fantastic touring to be had where suspension forks are very desirable indeed.

I think this is the touring I am searching for. And the right kind of bike to go with it.

You can get a brand new titanium 29er frame and reba fork with lockout for under $1100. Great setup for bikepacking. It doesn't have rack mounts on it BUT if you want to go with a rack then get an OLD MAN mountain rack which attaches to the rear quick release and you use a couple of clips to attach the top part to the seat stays. Solid system. Or you can just go with frame bags, seat bags and a handlebar sling along with gas cans and feed bags.
I never really understood hybrids. To me they seem to be the worst of both worlds. Not fast like a road bike and pretty horrible offroad when the going gets rough. They are probably fine as a fitness bike if you are not worried about speed or ever doing any true off roading.
A 29er mountain bike will accept road tires, hybrid tires and mountain bike tires so it is the most versatile bike out there.

You can get a brand new titanium 29er frame and reba fork with lockout for under $1100. Great setup for bikepacking.

It seems that's what I'll do. I'll use my existing frame for now, but may eventually replace it. I also was reading about Reba vs Manitou forks, and it seems Manitou will do fine for me.

Originally Posted by richwolf

It doesn't have rack mounts on it BUT if you want to go with a rack then get an OLD MAN mountain rack which attaches to the rear quick release and you use a couple of clips to attach the top part to the seat stays. Solid system. Or you can just go with frame bags, seat bags and a handlebar sling along with gas cans and feed bags.

I actually have a rack (topeak I think) that fits to my current bike. So that's fine for now.

Originally Posted by richwolf

I never really understood hybrids. ... They are probably fine as a fitness bike if you are not worried about speed or ever doing any true off roading.

That's me I'm not into racing - I prefer to go slow and enjoy the scenery. I'm also probably going to kill myself on any true off roading, so I don't do that either. That's why I think I will be fine with a hybrid. Even though it is the worst of both worlds, it gives me both worlds to enjoy.

I never really understood hybrids. To me they seem to be the worst of both worlds. Not fast like a road bike and pretty horrible offroad when the going gets rough. They are probably fine as a fitness bike if you are not worried about speed or ever doing any true off roading.

Stand up straight and turn your torso and around your lower body and see how many degrees of shoulder turn you can make. For me being a low handicap golfer, I can easily turn a full 90* and then some. now stand up straight and hinge at your hips until your torso has come down about 45* then try to see how many degrees of shoulder turn you can make. IT will be drastically reduced. On a road bike, you have very little visibility around and behind you because as your spine angle tilts, the ability to rotate around your torso decreases. IT's not big deal on a racing/road bike, you are focused on what is in front of you and going fast. Hybrids are designed to give you the upright positioning that will let you see around if your commuting and not force you to have strong abs to maintain the hunched over aerodynamic position. There are so many types of hybrids these days but many of them are WAY faster than a MTB and Way more versatile than a race bike. Put 32mm CX tires on a flatbar hybrid and you can take it down a bumpy country dirt road and easily rip away at 20mph. that wont be too fun on a road bike with 23's on it.